The Steelers had made it clear that they weren't willing to send Brown to an AFC North team or the Patriots. The team was reportedly planning to deal Brown by the end of the week after telling inquirers to get their best offers in as soon as possible.

Brown, 30, finished with 1,297 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns last season. The seven-time Pro Bowl selection boasts 11,207 receiving yards and 74 scores in his nine-year career spent entirely in Pittsburgh after being selected in the sixth round of the 2010 draft.

He requested a trade last month after missing the Steelers' final week of practice and sitting out the regular-season finale against the Bengals amid an alleged feud with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.